Lining for surfaces of a refractory crucible for purification of silicon melt and method of purification of the silicon melt using that crucible

A method for the purification of silicon, the method comprising:

• contacting a first silicon with a solvent metal comprising aluminum, to provide a first mixture;
• melting the first mixture in an interior of a melting crucible to provide a molten silicon mixture, the melting crucible comprising at least one refractory material having an inner surface defining the interior of the melting crucible;
• coating at least a portion of the inner surface of the melting crucible with a lining comprising colloidal alumina prior to melting the first mixture;
• cooling the molten silicon mixture, to form recrystallized silicon crystals and a mother liquor;
• and
• separating the final recrystallized silicon crystals and the mother liquor.

A method for the purification of silicon, the method comprising:

• contacting a first silicon with a first solvent metal, to provide a first mixture;
• coating at least a portion of a first inner surface of a first refractory of a first melting crucible with a first lining comprising colloidal alumina;
• melting the first mixture in an interior of the first melting crucible to provide a first molten silicon mixture;
• cooling the first molten silicon mixture, to form first silicon crystals and a first mother liquor;
• separating the first silicon crystals and the first mother liquor;
• contacting the first silicon crystals with a second solvent metal, to provide a second mixture;
• coating at least a portion of a second inner surface of a second refractory of a second melting crucible with a second lining comprising colloidal alumina;
• melting the second mixture in an interior of the second melting crucible to provide a second molten silicon mixture;
• cooling the second molten silicon mixture, to form second silicon crystals and a second mother liquor;
• and
• separating the second silicon crystals and the second mother liquor.